The 5th International Conference of Geological Engineering Faculty and Indonesia

Abstract

One of the least well-studied and overlooked aspects of plant conservation particularly for Araceae is geology. The purposed of this study is to evaluate the diversity and distribution association of Araceae in limestone rocks in Kelantan. The random sampling method was applied. A total of 61 sampling sites were visited including 15 sites of limestone areas. A total of 1,429 samples of Araceae species were collected covering all sites throughout the state. The results revealed a total of 41 species out of 17 genera of Araceae from limestone areas in the State of Kelantan, Peninsular Malaysia. This represents about 28.7% out of an estimated 143 species and 60.7% out of 28 genera of Araceae reported for Peninsular Malaysia. Six species of Araceae are considered as limestone specialists, these are A. farisii, A. marginatum, A. roxburghii, F. mix, H. scortechinii and P. kingii. The findings indicated that limestone is one of the hotspot for plants species endemism particularly on Araceae which need to be sustainably managed and protected.